POLL: Are you surprised legal pot has brought more homeless to Denver?

Denver homeless shelters and related facilities are reporting an increase in people needing their help this summer — and many of these agencies are blaming Colorado’s relaxed marijuana laws for the surge, according to a new report from The Denver Post.

Urban Peak’s drop in center saw the number of new visitors jump by 5 percent in May-July 2014, compared to the same period from 2013. Father Woody’s Haven of Hope has seen a 500 percent increase from their typical summertime influx in 2014.

“Of the new kids we’re seeing, the majority are saying they’re here because of the weed. They’re travelling through. It is very unfortunate,” said Kendall Rames, deputy director of Urban Peak, a non-profit which provides food, shelter and other services to young people in Denver and Colorado Springs.

Are you surprised that legal cannabis has brought more homeless to Colorado in this first summer of legal marijuana sales? Answer our poll:

POLL: Denver homeless shelters are seeing an increase of people needing help because more homeless are coming to Colorado for its relaxed marijuana laws. Are you surprised?

I'm surprised: I wouldn't have thought that legal recreational marijuana would mean an increase in the local homeless population.

I'm not surprised: Of course we have more homeless people in Denver now. It's a natural byproduct of legal weed.

Ricardo Baca is the editor of The Cannabist. After 12 years as The Denver Post's music critic and a couple more as the paper's entertainment editor, he was tapped to become The Post's first ever marijuana editor and create The Cannabist in...